28 March 2024

Atrocity – Okkult II

[schema type=”review” name=”Atrocity – Okkult II” description=”Label: Massacre Records” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”2018-07-06″ ]

Atrocity is a German band which was formed in 1985. Formerly known as Instigator until 1988, the band played grindcore in the early years but changed throughout the years by incorporating different styles into their sound. Some of you maybe heard this name or know the band via Leaves’ Eyes as all the band members of Atrocity also play in Leaves’ Eyes. 5 years have passed since the release of “Okkult” and it seems like the band finally found time from the busy schedule of Leaves’ Eyes. Here they are with “Okkult II”. 

This is an interesting one for sure. Considering the band’s history, the overall sound is modern but rough, ranging from death to symphonic metal with little touches of thrash metal. As a matter of fact, the album starts with the total thrash/death metal vibe but changes to symphonic metal here and there… which surely reminded me of Leaves’ Eyes sound with the choirs and the style. This variety of different genres is surely attractive and will keep the listeners occupied. However, I would have wished for a more consistent sound instead of changing genres very often as I sometimes felt like the band had no direction and just played around with the ideas they had. That being said, the second half of the album definitely offers a more consistent blend of these styles and especially between the rough sound and the symphonic arrangements.

Many styles compressed in one album… That’s what Atrocity’s “Okkult II” is all about. It’s definitely a rough one; at least rough enough for the metal crowd and also probably what the band aimed for. It’s worth checking out if you are especially fine with this changing of styles pretty fast and frequently in an album. Give it a try!

 

Tracklist

1. Masters of Darkness
2. Shadowtaker
3. Bloodshed and Triumph
4. Spell of Blood
5. Menschenschlachthaus
6. Gates to Oblivion (feat. Marc Grewe)
7. Infernal Sabbath
8. All Men Must Die
9. Phantom Ghost
10. Devil’s Covenant (feat. LG Petrov)
11. The Golden Dawn

Links:
Atrocity Facebook